Leduc County, Alberta is dealing with widespread flooding that has closed more than 10 roads after heavy rain hammered the region between June 20 and 22. County officials say the closures are in place until conditions improve and are urging residents to avoid flooded areas and check road conditions before heading out.
According to a flooding alert from Leduc County, the drenched roads include several township and range roads that connect farms and acreages. The full list as of June 23 at 11 a.m. covers Range Road 270 south of Township Road 504, Range Road 245 between Highway 623 and Township Road 500, two sections of Township Road 482, Township Road 493 west of Range Road 25, Range Road 271 between Township Road 481 and Township Road 482, Range Road 23 between Township Road 474 and Township Road 475A, Range Road 22 north of Township Road 474, Township Road 474 east of 616X Road, and Range Road 254 between Highway 19 and Township Road 502.
The storm that triggered the flooding was a slow-moving system that dumped between 91 and 127 millimetres of rain on the Leduc area alone. That contributed to one of the wettest Junes on record for the Edmonton region, where over 189 millimetres has been measured so far this month. The North Saskatchewan River has also swelled, flowing at about 1,050 cubic metres per second through Edmonton, roughly double the flow from just two days earlier.
Along with road closures, the county and several neighbouring communities have asked residents to limit water use. A water supply advisory issued June 21 urges people to hold off on non-essential tasks like laundry, dishwashing, and long showers. The goal is to ease pressure on overwhelmed wastewater systems. Similar alerts went out in Beaumont, St. Albert, Stony Plain, Tofield, Wabamun, and parts of Lac Ste. Anne County.
County crews are working to protect roads, bridges, and private property. For the latest on which roads are open, residents can call Leduc County road operations at 780-979-6185.
